Awning



Feb. 19, 1957 2,781,834

R. s. WOODARD AWNING 'Filed June 21, 1954 Kay 5. l/aagn 2E United States Patent AWNING Roy S. Woodard, St. Louis, Mo.

Application June 21, 1954, Serial No. 438,086

2 Claims. (Cl. 160-56) This invention relates to awnings and in particular to fabric awnings.

Outwardly-extending, windowashading fabric awnings known heretofore have generally been provided with sides. The awnings havebeen raised and lowered by means of ropes passing through guides (rings `or blocks) mounted on the building to which the awning is attached. The ropes have been positioned inboard of the fabric, so that when the awning was pulled to its folded position, the fabric was prevented from hanging in neat folds by the rope below it, and of necessity presented a rumpled appearance as well as providing rain pockets in which water stood, not only rotting the fabric but forming a trap for the unwary. Furthermore, the fabric awnings of the character now used to shade Windows have not been suited for use with easement windows, since they are either too low to provide suicient clearance to open the windows, or so high as to appear ill-proportioned.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a fabric awning which, :so far as its framework and its operating mechanism is concerned, is a self-contained unit.

Another object is to provide an awning which permits free movement Iof air beneath it and which is less liable to wind damage.

Another object of this invention is to provide an awning which in its raised position presents a neat appearance and which does not trap water.

Still another `object of this invention is to provide a fabric awning which is well adapted to use with easement Windows.

Still another object of this invention is to'provide `an awning which can be variously mounted to provide diierent kinds of window shading and protection.

Still another object is to provide an awning which, though provided with a plurality of outwardly-extending supporting arms, can be rolled into a small, compact bundle for storage or shipping.

Other objects which will become apparent to those skilled in the lart in the light of the following description and accompanying drawing.

In accordance with this invention generally stated, a fabric awning is provided with a head rod, adapted to be mounted in brackets secured to a wall, on which head rod awning rope guides are mounted. A fabric awning is mounted on the head rod, inboard of the guides. The fabric is held out in its extended position by one or more supports each having a pair of outwardly-extending legs and a horizontal member. The horizontal member lies parallel with the head rod Iand extends beyond the sides of the fabric as does the head rod.

` When two of the supports are used, they are arranged to be raised to a position substantially parallel with one another and with the wall on which the awning is mounted. i

Awning ropes, running through the guides mounted on the head rod, extend along and outboard of the side edges of the awning fabric.

The construction and proportions of the supports, when two of the supports are used, and the arrangement of awning ropes is such that the awning may be made adjustable to two diierent positions on the wall to which it is attached, in each of which positions a part of the awning may be raised and lowered.

In the drawing, Figure l is a view in side elevation of an awning constructed in accordance with one embodiment of this invention mounted on a wall which is shown in section;

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation partly broken away of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of the device shown in. Figure l, showing the awning mounted in a dierent manner from that shown in Figure l;

Figure 4 is a view in side elevation of the device shown in Figure l, showing the device in raised position;

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken -along the. the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a sectional View taken along the line 6 6 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary View of a horizontal member showing the attachment of an ornamental knob and awning rope eye thereto; and,

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8--8 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawing for an illustrative embodirnent of this invention, reference numeral 1 represents a complete awning mounted on a wall 2 in shading position above a easement window 3. Secured to the wall 2 on opposite isides of the window 3 are head rod brackets 5, upper support brackets 9 and alternate support bracket 12. Also secured to the wall 2, at one side of the window 3, is an awning rope cleat 14.

The head rod brackets 5 may be in the usual form of such brackets, with one or more upwardly curved arms 6 and a wing nut 7.

Mounted in the head rod brackets 5 is a head rod 15. The head rod 15 carries near its end, on the awning rope cleat side of the window, awning rope blocks 17 and 19.

At its opposite end, the head rod 15 carries .an awning p rope block 21.

A fabric curtain 25 is mounted on the head rod 15 intermediate the awning rope blocks 17 and 19 at one side and 21 on the other side. In this way the awning rope blocks 17 and 19 on one side and the awn-ing rope block 21 on the other side are outboard and clear of the fabric curtain 25.

Preferably the fabric curtain 25 extends a substantial distance beyond the boundaries of the window 3 on either side of the window. For example, in a window thirty-six inches Wide, the fabric curtain 25 is preferably made sixty inches wide, extending a full foot beyond the window on either side.

In the embodiment shown, the fabric curtain 25 is held in its extended position by two supports, an intermediate support 30 and a lower support 40. The intermediate support 39 is provided with 'a pair of legs 3l, pivotally mounted at their inner ends either on the upper support brackets 9, as shown in Figure l, or on alternate support brackets 12, as shown in Figure 3, and connected at their outer ends to a horizontal member 32. The horizontal member 32 is removably mounted in a pocket 26 extending across the width of the fabric curtain and open at each end. The fabric curtain 25 lies inboard of the ends of the horizontal member 32 sufiiciently far to permit a pair of awning rope eyes 33, one on either end, to be carried by the horizontal member 32 outboard of the sides of the fabric curtain 25.

As is shown in detail in Figure 7, the horizontal member 32 is preferably a hollow tube the ends of which are closed by an ornamental plug 34 having a stem 35. The plug 34 is maintained in position by the shank of the eye 33, extending through aligned holes in the horizontal member 32 and a corresponding hole in the stem 35. The eye 33 is secured, in the embodiment shown, by means of a nut 36 on a threaded end of the shank.

The lower support 40 is also provided with legs 41 and a horizontal member 42. The legs 41 of the. lower support are pivotally mounted at one end on and below the corresponding legs 31 of the intermediate support 30. In the embodiment shown, a clamp 43 tits tightly around each leg 31 adjacent the end of the leg 31 which is pivotally mounted on the wall 2. Ears 44 of the clamp 43 extend below and on either side of the leg 31 and carry a removable. pivot pin 45 on which the leg 41 is mounted. The lower support horizontal member 42 is provided with decorativeY plugs 46 and eyes 47 in the same way as the horizontal member 32 of the inter-mediate support 30. The horizontal member 42 is removably mounted in a pocket in Ithe fabric curtain in the same way in which the horizontal member 32 is mounted in the pocket 26. The; fabric` curtain 25 lies inboard of the awning rope eyes 47 of the horizontal member 42.

A free-hanging border 50 depends along the forward edge of the fabric curtain 25 below the horizontal member 42.

An awning rope 55 is in the form of an open loop, with free ends 56 and 57. The free end 56 is secured in the eye 47 of the lower support horizontal member 42. From` there 'the awning rope extends slideably through the eye 33 of the intermediate support horizontal member 32, through the block 21, beneath the fabric curtain below the head rod 15, and through the block 19 to closed end 58 of the loop. The other free end 57 is secured to the opposite eye 47 of the lower support horizontal member 42, extends slideably through the corresponding eye 33 of the intermediate support horizontal member 32 and through the block 17 to Ithe closed loop 58. The blocks 17, 19 and 21 are provided with sheaves, not here shown. However, the guides mounted on thel head rod may also take the form of rings or loops, such as are well-known in the awning art.

The legs 31 of 4the intermediate 'support and the legs 41 of the lower support are hinged to their respective horizontal members in such a way as `to permit them to be folded substantially parallel to the horizontal members for ease in storage and shipping. In the embodiment. shown, a bracket 60, U-shaped in side elevation, is secured to the horizontal member in such a way that the horizontal member lies. in the bottom of the U with a pair of plates 61 extending inwardly. A stop pin 62 extends between the plates 61. A support leg is mounted between the plates 61 on a pivot 63 in such a way that its outer end bears against the stop pin 62 when the support leg is in position only slightly inboard of the position at which it is to be mounted on the wall. By so positioning the stop pin 62 that the support legs must be sprung outwardly through a small distance, the supports 30 and 40 are made more rigid than they otherwise would be.

The upper support brackets 9 and the lower support brackets 12 may be identical and, in the embodiment shown, consist of a U-shaped bracket secured to the wall by a screw through the web of the U. A pair of arms 11 extend outwardly and are provided with aligned holes through which a pin 13, passing through holes in the end of the leg 31, extends, The pin 13 is removable, so as to permit `the leg 31. to be demounted.

The pocket 26 and the corresponding pocket in which the horizontal member 42 lies, are interrupted near their ends through a distance sufficient to clear the brackets 60, as is shown in Figure 6. Each bracket 60 is preferably mounted on the horizontal member at a distance inboard of the side of the fabric curtain 25 sutiicient to permit a section of the pocket to extend between the edge of the fabric and the outer edge of the clamp 60, as is shown in Figure 6. The exact construction of the pocket 26 and of the pocket in which horizontal member 42 lies is not a part of this invention and may be varied.

The position of the blocks 17, 19 and 21, and of the eyes 33 and 47 of the horizontal members 32 and 42 with respect to the fabric curtain 25, is such that `the awning ropes extend along and outboard of the fabric curtain between the blocks and the eyes 47 to which the awning ropes are secured.

In operation, the awning is mounted on a wall simply by resting the ends of the head rod 15 on the arms 6 of the head rod brackets 5, and tightening the wing nuts 7. The present arrangement, in which the head rod extends beyond the fabric curtain on either side, not only facilitates this task, but preserves the fabric. However, additional head rod brackets may be provided, as is presently customary, along the fabric-covered portion of the head rod. The awning rope 55 may already be in place, since the blocksl 17, 19' and. 21 are carried by the head rod 15. This, too, vastly simplifies the task. If the maximum amount. of light and ventilation through the windows is desired, the intermediate` support rods 31 are sprung apart and their ends slipped into the upper support brackets 9, andthe pins 13 slid into place.

If more shade. is desired, the rods 31 may be mounted in the alternate support brackets 12. It can be seen that the distance between the head rod brackets 5 and the alternateA support brackets 12 should be approximately the sum of the length of the fabric curtain, between the head rod 15 and the horizontal member 32, and the length of the legs 31. In either position, as exemplified by Figure l and Figure 3, the extending leg or legs may be raised to the folded position with respect to the wall simply by pulling the awning rope 55. In the position shown in Figure l, with the legs 31 mounted in the upper bracket 9, pulling on the awning rope 55 will raise the awning to the position shown in Figure 4, in `two stages. First, the lower support 40 will be rotated about the pin 45 in the clamp 43 until the support 40 is substantially parallel with and lying against the support 30, the awning ropes sliding through the eyes 33 on the horizontal member 32. When the lower support 40 has reached the intermediate support 30, they will be drawn up together to the position shown in Figure 4. Inasrnuch as the awning ropes along 'the sides of the fabric curtain are outboard and clear of the fabric curtain, they cannot interfere with ythe neat folding of the fabric curtain as the supports 30 and 40 are raised. The fabric curtain will hang in two simple folds, the first one between the supports 40 and 30 and the second one between the support 30 and the wall. These folds are open-ended and straight and caunot, therefore, trap water.

When the awning rope is pulled while the awning is in the position shown in Figure 3 with the rod 31 mounted in the alternate bracket 12, the awning rope again slides freely through the eyes 33 of the intermediate section horizontal member 32, drawing the lower support 40 to a position substantially parallel with and along the intermediate support 3). Again, the fabric curtain between the intermediate support and the lower support will fold in a simple, neat-appearing fold lying between the two supports.

In order to maintain the awning in raised or partly raised position, it is only necessary to secure the awning rope about the cleat 14.

In dismounting the awning for storage or packing, it is only necessary to remove the pins 13 from the support brackets in which the legs 31 are mounted, and to dismount the head rod 15 from the head rod brackets 5. The supports 40 and 30 may be put in the position in which they normally are when raised, that is, with the legs 41 lying parallel with and along the legs 31, provided, however, that the length of the legs 41 is such that the head rods 32 and 42 coincide. In that event, the legs 31 and 41 may be folded inwardly along the head rods 32 and 42 respectively, and the fabric curtain can then be rolled up around the folded supports.

If the length of the legs 41 is such that the head rods 32 and 42 do not coincide in the raised position, then it is necessary to detach the legs 41 from their mounting brackets 43 by removing the pins 45. The fabric curtain 25 may be stretched out straight; the lower support legs 41 are folded along their horizontal member 42; the intermediate support legs 31 are folded against their horizontal member 32, and the fabric curtain is rolled up around the lower support as a core.

In either case, a large awning can be rolled'into a small, compact bundle, so far as its girth is concerned. The bundle will, of course, be as long as the head rod and horizontal members of the supports, unless they are also jointed.

Since the awning rope guides and the awning rope are attached to the awning structure itself, they may simply be left in position, and the free-hanging part of the awning rope may be used to tie up the rolled awning.

The provision of a wide overhang on either side of the window shields the window from direct rays of the sun, while admitting diffused light from the sides. At the same time, the provision of a fabric curtain which does not have sides permits free circulation of air beneath the awning and renders the awning less liable to damage from wind, since the wind does not catch under the awning and tend to raise and flutter the awning as much as it does an awning which is provided with sides.

The provision of an intermediate support permits the use of the awning over a Casement window without unduly raising the awning or making it appear ill-pro portioned. The hinging of the intermediate support to the wall, and the lower support to the intermediate support is such that the intermediate support lies practically flush with the wall in its raised position and the lower support lies practically flush against the intermediate support. While other arrangements of mounting may be used, they do not permit this result. For example, if the intermediate and lower supports are pivoted at the same point on the wall, they cannot be folded flat against one another. Nor can they be so folded if the intermediate support is pivoted on the arms of the lower support, nor if the lower support is pivoted to the upper side of the intermediate support. v

The various elements of the awning of this invention may be made of any suitable materials. The fabric is generally canvas, although any other suitable, exible sheet material can be used. The supports and head rod may be made of various suitable materials. The use of 5A; inch galvanized iron pipe for 4the supports and head rod has been found to be satisfactory.

While the exact dimensions form no part of this invention, a satisfactory awning for a window thirty-six inches wide and sixty-two inches tall can be made with the following dimensions, in inches:

Width of fabric curtain 60 Length of head rod 65 Length of horizontal members 63 Length of intermediate support legs 30 Length of lower support legs 271/2 Distance between pivot point of intermediate legs and the pivot point of the lower support legs 2% Length of fabric curtain between head rod and intermediate section horizontal member 21 As has been indicated, these dimensions may be varied and indeed must be varied for different sizes of windows. Numerous variations within the scope of the appended claims will become apparent to those skilled in the art 'lasy in the light of the foregoing disclosure. For example, the distance between the wall pivot end of the arms 31 of the intermediate support and the clamp 43 may be increased and, at the same time, the length of the legs 41 of the lower support may be shortened so that the lower support arms tend downwardly outwardly when the awning is fully extended. Thus, by way of illustration, if the intermediate support legs 31 are thirty inches long, the lower support legs 41 may be pivoted ten inches from the wall along the legs 31. The legs 41 can be made twenty inches long, so that when folded against the legs 31, their lengths coincide. This construction has several advantages, an important one being that by making the lower support arms tend downwardly, there is no tendency for those arms to appear out of plumb. It sometimes happens, when the lower support arms 41 extend at right angles from the wall, that, because of a peculiarity in design or construction of the wall, the lower support legs will appear to be out of plumb from the perpendicular. In the alternate embodiment described, such an optical illusion is not possible.

A refinement in the construction of the awning is the provision of an adjustable eye on the wall end of the intermediate support rods 41. By making the length of the lower end of that rod adjustable, the rod can be made to tit the support brackets 9 and 12 through a range of vertical distances from the head rod brackets suicient to permit the support brackets 9 and 12 to be secured in a mortar joint between bricks. This arrangement is particularly advantageous when the extended lower support arms tend downwardly outwardly, since the adjustment of the length of the intermediate support legs will then not throw the lower support legs out of plumb from the perpendicular, as explained above.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. An awning comprising a head rod mounted on a wall, awning rope guides attached to said head rod adjacent opposite ends thereof, an intermediate support having a pair of legs and a horizontal member, said legs being pivotally mounted at one end on the wall and hingedly attached, at the other end, to said horizontal member; a lower support, having a pair of legs and a horizontal member, said legs at one end being pivotally mounted on and beneath the legs of the intermediate support, and hingedly attached at the other end to the lower support horizontal member; a fabric curtain successively mounted on and extending between the head rod and the horizontal member of the intermediate support and the horizontal member of the lower support, said fabric curtain lying inboard of the guides on the head rod, and of the ends of the horizontal members of the intermediate and lower supports; and an awning rope secured to the ends of the horizontal member of the lower support, and extending from the head rod awning rope guides to the said horizontal member of the lower support along and outboard of the sides of the fabric curtain.

2. The awning of claim l wherein the ends of the horizontal member of the intermediate section are provided with eyes, positioned outboard of the fabric curtain, through which the awning rope, between the guides and the ends of the horizontal member of the lower support, runs.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 501,932 Glawe July 25, 1893 742,246 Sorensen Oct. 27, 1903 889,049 Riley May 26, 1908 1,267,036 Abbott May 21, 1918 1,795,521 Stenzel Mar. 10, 1931 1,803,305 Sheard Apr. 28, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS 500,234 Great Britain Feb. 6, 1939 

